Question

How can I handle my tantrum-prone toddler on the plane?

Share

My wife and I will be traveling with our 20-month-old son on a ten-hour flight to Eastern Europe. I'm scared to death. My little boy never sits still and is at the stage where he has incredible temper tantrums when things don't go his way. Does anyone have any advice for making this flight as painless as possible for my son, and also for my wife, myself, and the rest of the passengers?

Mom Answers

Im traveling with my 22 months old son, he is very active and always running in planes. This flight will b for 11 hrs then a stop for 4 hours then another 6 hour flight. He has an iPad full of games but it doesn't take more than half an hour from his time, even watching cartoons, he gets bored easily. I tried the medication it made him more hyper. Please help!

hahaha. good luck. i flew with my (then 17 month old) girl alone to Chicago IL from France (where i currently live). I will never ever ever do it again. On the way back we both ended up getting the flu. It was a nightmare. At least you arent flying alone. Dont bother bringing toys and such.......they will want to touch everything else.

Thanks for sharing all the stories / strategies with super long haul flight. even though we have flew bicoastal and transatlantic flights a few times, our upcoming 16+hr nonstop flight to Asia with our lively 20 month old still makes us very nervous. Our gameplan is to be as prepared as you can be, and go with the flow.

First select a flight that is after his bedtime. While he might be grouchy the day after, it will be easier to handle off the plane. I also liked the idea of having stickers, which worked really well, wrapped present "surprises" that are good for doing in small spaces, such as a doodle pad and/or learning flash cards. Also in layovers do what you can to let him run around to tire him out.

I've traveled a handful of times with my 21 month old son for 5+ hour flights and the older he gets the more anxious I get about flying with him, but I have learned a few things to help.
-I book flights during his usual bed/nap times. I keep him up & let him run like crazy through the airport until just before we board to wear himself out, I wait to be one of the last to board(less time cooped up) &I give him a bottle during take off-so far it's worked out really well for me.
-Before we board I strap him to me in my ergo carrier-he seems to relax&sleep better this way,it also allows for me to easily get out of my seat&stroll the aisle should I need to calm him w/ walking or change of scenery.
-Aisle seats.This makes it easier to get to&from your seat shld you need to.
-A good supply of favorite snacks&small toys. Baby food pouches are great for traveling. My son loves them & they serve as the perfect travel/distraction treat.
-Get silly,softly sing&talk w/ him as much as you can

All I can say is Thank the Lord for iphones! My 20 month old is extremely content to sit and watch sesame, play her toddler apps or look at photos/videos of herself. The only suggestion is to get some external old school headphones so she can listen without trying to have to keep stuffing the earbuds into her ears. Fisher-Price has a great free app with animals and numbers & there are so many others you can't go wrong!

Wonderful Tip I received: Put toys into brown bags. Pull them out during a breakdown. My son quickly quieted down due to an interest in the crumbling noise of the bag. He was so excited to see what was in the different bags. Really distracted him at least for a little while.
Also he is a little old for the yogurt melts but those work wonders. He sucks on them which also helps with elevation changes since he no longer sucks on a pacifier or a bottle. DVD, favorite candy, snacks, stickers, colors, I carried a thomas the train pack n go set (My son is into trains). Also ask for Bulk head seating. YOu cannot store any of your carryons in front of you BUT put a blanket down and your child can sit on the floor or stand in front of you while in the air. Best of Luck!!

TV: Bring your laptop loaded with kids' shows, plus an extra battery. My 18-month-old (who usually never or rarely watches TV) is completely mesmerized by watching The Wonder Pets and Baby Einstein on our long flights. We live in China and travel back to the US 3 times per year, so we have lots of experience with 30-hour trips. Kids' TV will entertain her for at least 6 hours of the trip.
Sleep: Forget about your kid sleeping anywhere but in your arms! Just try to make yourself comfortable while holding him/her - watch in-flight movies, take a nap yourself, prop pillows under your arms. Your kid will sleep the best and longest in your arms.
Activities: bring a toddler-sized wheeled bag full of toys and books he/she has never seen before. This will buy you at least 2 hours of entertainment. Washable crayons and an activity book work wonders, even for the little ones.

An Ipod with earphones, load with shows from your kid's favorite character(like Dora, Diego, Caillou)
it's a lifesaver on the plane. My toddler ws really proud to watch Caillou, and it kept her busy.
And it was snack,Cailllou, potty time, walk on the plane, a book, Dora and so on.
If you dont have an Ipod, there are those little DVD with a 7 inch screeen for about 100$
Well worth the investment, just be sure to download the TV episodes and to test it,a nd to have enough battery/charge before you take the plane

This Internet site provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Please review the Terms of Use before using this site. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use.

This site is published by BabyCenter, L.L.C., which is responsible for its contents as further described and qualified in the Terms of Use.